Method and system of providing a picture password for relatively smaller displays

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to a device operable to process input for a picture password for proof of knowledge. In some embodiments, the device includes a display, an input subsystem, processor(s), and memory containing instructions executable by the processor(s) such that the device is operative to display, on the display of the device, an image for the picture password proof of knowledge. The image is associated with an overlaid grid comprising a plurality of elements, and each element corresponds to a distinct area of the image. The device is further operative to, determine an offset to be used and, in response to receiving an input via the input subsystem at a first location of the display, highlight an element of the overlaid grid at a second location on the first image on the display. The second location is offset from the first location by the offset.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable device, comprising:
 a small display; 
 an input subsystem, wherein the input subsystem comprises a touch sensitive display; 
 one or more processors; and 
 memory containing instructions executable by the one or more processors whereby the portable device is operable to:
 display, on the small display of the portable device, a first image, wherein the first image is associated with an overlaid grid comprising a plurality of elements and each element corresponds to a distinct area of the first image; 
 determine an offset to be used; and 
 in response to receiving an input via the input subsystem at a first location on the small display, highlight an element of the overlaid grid at a second location on the first image on the small display, wherein the second location is offset from the first location by the offset. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the offset is determined based on at least one member of the group consisting of: a saved offset value, a detected touch diameter, a mode of operation of the portable device, a size of the small display, a policy setting. 
     
     
       3. The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the portable device is further operable to:
 receive a training input via the input subsystem at a first training location on the first image on the small display; 
 continually change a highlighted element of the overlaid grid until the training input is concluded where the highlighted element is at a second training location on the first image on the small display; and 
 set the offset to be the difference between the first training location and the second training location. 
 
     
     
       4. The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the portable device is at least one member of the group consisting of: a smartphone, a media player, a tablet, a wearable, and a smartwatch. 
     
     
       5. The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the portable device is further operable to display, on the small display of the portable device, the overlaid grid comprising the plurality of elements based on a visibility setting. 
     
     
       6. The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the portable device is further operable to:
 display, on the small display, a whitespace area along at least one outside edge of the displayed image, wherein the whitespace does not include the displayed image. 
 
     
     
       7. The portable device of  claim 6 , wherein the whitespace contains at least one member of the group consisting of: graphical objects and graphical information. 
     
     
       8. The portable device of  claim 7 , wherein the graphical objects comprise controls for toggling a visibility setting of the overlaid grid. 
     
     
       9. The portable device of  claim 7 , wherein the graphical information comprises advertisements. 
     
     
       10. The portable device of  claim 6 , wherein the first location on the small display is at least one member of the group consisting of: a location within the first image and a location within the whitespace. 
     
     
       11. The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the portable device further comprises a clock subsystem that controls a predetermined timer. 
     
     
       12. The portable device of  claim 11 , wherein a state of the predetermined timer is either active or not active based on the input. 
     
     
       13. The portable device of  claim 12 , wherein the input is at least one member of the group consisting of: a touch input and a hover input. 
     
     
       14. The portable device of  claim 13 , wherein the input is selected from a group consisting of a down input, a move input, and an up input. 
     
     
       15. The portable device of  claim 14 , wherein, if the input is the down input, the portable device is further operable to:
 determine the state of the predetermined timer; 
 responsive to the state of predetermined timer being active, designate the element of the overlaid grid at the second location as a prospective end-point for an input action and display, on the small display, a line between a start-point of the input action and the prospective end-point for the input action; and 
 responsive to the state of the predetermined timer being not active, designate the element of the overlaid grid at the second location as a prospective start-point for the input action. 
 
     
     
       16. The portable device of  claim 14 , wherein, if the input is the move input, the portable device is further operable to:
 determine a designation of the element of the overlaid grid at the second location on the first image; 
 responsive to the designation of the element of the overlaid grid at the second location on the first image as a prospective start-point for an input action, move the prospective start-point in accordance with the move input; and 
 responsive to the designation of the element of the overlaid grid at the second location on the first image as a prospective end-point for the input action, move the prospective end-point in accordance with the move input and move, on the small display, a line between a start-point for the input action and the prospective end-point in accordance with the move input. 
 
     
     
       17. The portable device of  claim 14 , wherein, if the input is the up input, the portable device is further operable to:
 determine a designation of the element of the overlaid grid at the second location on the first image; 
 responsive to the designation of the element of the overlaid grid at the second location on the first image being a prospective start-point for the input action, set the element of the overlaid grid at the second location as a start-point for the input action, and activate the predetermined timer; and 
 responsive to the designation of the element of the overlaid grid at the second location on the first image being a prospective end-point for the input action, set the element of the overlaid grid at the second location as an end-point for the input action and display, on the small display, a line between the start-point and the end-point for the input action. 
 
     
     
       18. The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the portable device is further operable to:
 receive a grid size input that designates a size of the overlaid grid comprising the plurality of elements from a plurality of different grid sizes, wherein the overlaid grid comprising the plurality of elements supports the plurality of different grid sizes. 
 
     
     
       19. The portable device of  claim 18 , wherein the grid size input is at least one member of the group consisting of: the input from the input subsystem and an input received via the communications interface. 
     
     
       20. The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the input subsystem comprises a first input subsystem for determining a first type of input as a touch input and a second input subsystem for determining a second type of input is a hover input. 
     
     
       21. The portable device of  claim 20 , wherein the portable device further comprises a plurality of input layers, and the portable device is further operable to:
 determine a type for the input; 
 responsive to the type for the input being a first type, detect the input on a first layer of the plurality of input layers; and 
 responsive to the type for the input being a second type of input, detect the input on a second layer of the plurality of input layers. 
 
     
     
       22. The portable device of  claim 21 , wherein the determination of the type of input is based on at least one member of the group consisting of: a touch-and-hold gesture at a predetermined corner of the touch sensitive display, activation of a hot key, use of touch points, use of strokes, use of paths, a predetermined gesture that applies force on the touch sensitive display that exceeds a predetermined threshold, a predetermined gesture that does not contact the touch sensitive display. 
     
     
       23. The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein prior to the display of the first image, the portable device is further operative to:
 display, on the small display of the portable device, one or more second images associated with a predetermined textual hint and a predetermined input action; 
 display, on the small display of the portable device, the predetermined textual hint; 
 detect an input action with respect to the one or more second images; and 
 provide access to the first image based on a verification that the input action with respect to the one or more second images corresponds to the predetermined input action. 
 
     
     
       24. The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein prior to the display of the first image, the portable device is further operable to:
 display, on the small display of the portable device, one or more second images comprising a plurality of objects, wherein each of the plurality of objects is associated with class designation information indicative of one of at least two separate and perceptibly distinct classes; 
 highlight a first object from the plurality of objects, the first object having a first class designation information; 
 receive an input identifying a second object from the plurality of objects, the second object having a second class designation information; and 
 provide access to the first image based on a verification that the first and second class designation information is the same. 
 
     
     
       25. The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein prior to the display of the first image, the portable device is further operable to:
 display, on the small display of the portable device, one or more second images comprising a plurality of objects; 
 display, on the small display of the portable device, a predetermined textual analogy; 
 highlight an object from the plurality of objects; 
 receive an input identifying a second object from the plurality of objects; and 
 provide access to the first image based on a verification that the second object identified satisfies the predetermined textual analogy with respect to the first object highlighted.